Ruffin and Jamie Shackelford

Directors

Ruffin & Jamie Shackelford

Through the marvelous grace of God, Ruffin turned his life to Christ after witnessing the majesty and awesomeness of His creation. Jamie surrendered to the Lord after facing various challenges in life. However, both of them grew up loving the creation as they backpacked, paddled, climbed, hunted and fished while spending time in wilderness settings. Jamie led her first camp in her backyard at age ten, and Ruffin spent his teen years attending Student Conservation Corp and NOLS. Their passion for outdoor adventure and their love of God propelled them to develop Outdoor Mission Camp.

Ruffin and Jamie have six children, whom they homeschooled, and have raised numerous other foster and foreign children. Many of these children helped build Outdoor Mission Camp. As God grew the vision of the Outdoor Mission Camp in their hearts and minds, He also provided the land and means for this camp. The first camp was a trial week of Companion Camping, and the next summer, they took all of Ruffin's vacation time and ran three weeks of camp with court referred youth. After seeing most of the campers receive Christ, but go home to a non-supportive environment, and after visiting a few past campers in jail, they were urged to begin a year around discipleship program which eventually birthed Youth for Christ Roxboro.

As God grew the vision of the Outdoor Mission Camp in their hearts and minds, He also provided the land and means for this camp. The first camp was a trial week of Companion Camping, and the next summer, they took all of Ruffin's vacation time and ran three weeks of camp with court referred youth. After seeing most of the campers receive Christ, but go home to a non-supportive environment, and after visiting a few past campers in jail, they were urged to begin a year around discipleship program which eventually birthed Youth for Christ Roxboro.

In 2008, Ruffin left his 32 year career in the power industry and moved into fulltime ministry.

A multitude of volunteers helped build the facility in Maggie Valley and several young people have engaged in serving God at Outdoor Mission Camp. Outdoor Mission Camp is an outreach program of Youth For Christ/USA. Youth For Christ is a donor supported 501 (c)3 ministry whose goal is to reach EVERY young person in EVERY people group, locally, nationally, and internationally. We desire to see lives transformed, fulfilled, and producing good fruit.

Love The Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind…Love your neighbor as yourself. ~Matthew 22:37-39